A RNLI volunteer lifeboat crew were called out at 5.15pm on Saturday after reports of an elderly couple with three dogs were cut off by the tide.

The crew from Staithes arrived at Runswick Bay and the lifeboat crew began searching the area.

With no sign of the couple Coastguard teams from Staithes and Whitby joined in the search along the cliff tops and footpaths nearby.

With concern for the safety of the couple growing the Coastguard Rescue Helicopter arrived on scene at 6.30pm and began searching using their infra-red camera.

Shortly after the couple were reported to have made it to the safety of a game keeper’s cottage nearby and they informed police that they were safe.

The lifeboat returned to Staithes at 7pm.